Index head



INDEX HEAD Filed April 24. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l Erg, Z 5

3 /J' $33333 -Z 76 9123/ NvENToR ATTCRNEY WITNES July 13 1926.

R. K. MCDOUGAL INDEX HEAD Filed April 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nfozggf ATTORNEY Patented July 13, 19276.

UNITED orifice.

RD K. itenotiAL, oF BoIsn, IDAHO.

. application, like numerals of reference in-V dicate similar wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the invention. .Y

. Figure 2 is afragnientary View"7 of the. in; dexfchart.4

Figure 3 is a sectional View on line 343 of Figure A1. Figure 4 isa perspective View of thehidex finger ,and supporting plate therefore.

Figure 5 is" a sectional View on line 545 of Figure 1. Y

Referring to the drawings in' detail, 1Q indicates a rotatable shaft mounted'on' the indexing head to be presently described, the shaft being rotated through the instrumen'- tality of a handlell which' has an o iset extremity 12 as clearly shown in Figure 3. The indexing head forming the subject matter of the present invention comprises a' stationary disk 13 which" is formed with an parts inthe several' views,V and annular slot 14- to receive the head of T-b'olt which is passed through; an opening in the `offset extremity 12 ofsaid handle and equipped with a nu't- 16, which when tightened holds the handle 11 fixed With relation to the stationary disk .for a purpose to be presently described.` lThe front of th`e` diskv 13 is, provided vvithjan `annular recess 17 which receiyes a rotatable disk 18-tlie hub oi which is indicated at 19'.` The disk 18 is graduated about its edge in thousandths clearly illustrated. in Figure 1, and is provided vvith' a stop member 2O at zero which stop member is notched as at 21. The hl'i'b 19 of this disk is provided with aA Worin gear 22 which meshes with theV gear 2k3 which isl rotated through the instrumentality of a micrometer head or thimble 24 which is graduated so that ,the totalratiohetween the shaft. 10 and each space onthe thimble is' one thousand to one. It might here' be statedl nalled in spaced bearings 25 projecting from one end of a substantially disk like support-` ing plate 2G which has a centrali opening 27 to receive the adjacent end of the shaft 10,

' being arranged in face to farce Contact With `the hub 19 of the rotatable disk 18. Proj ectingv from the periphery of the supporting plate 26 at a point directly opposite from the bearings 25 is an angular shaped index finger 28 which hasv offset extremities 29 adapted to bear against the outer face of the disk 18 to cooperate with the graduations thereon in a manner andV for a purpose to be presently described. This extremity 29 is provided. with an opening 30 to receive the shank of a T-holt, the head 31 of Which is adapted to operate in a similar sh'apedannular slot 32 formed in the disk 18, While the shank ofthis bolt is proyided With a nut' 33 which' when tightened holds the index finger iixed `with relation to the disk 18, forrotation therewith when the micrometer head or thimble 24 is rotated. This index iinger is also formed With a'y notch or groove 34 tocof operate ivith a spring rod 35 supported for sliding movementon av handle 11 and at a right angle thereto'. The handle supports tubular housing or casing 36 'which' is preferably threaded in an openingformed in said handle, and which housing receives the rod 35, the latter projecting through the end ofthe housing and equipped-with a knob. 37. The spring 38 is arranged Within this housing and cooperates with one end of the latter and a shoulder 39 formed on the rod to normally hold the latter in contacting engagement With the disk 18. This disk 18 is also provided with a T-shaped bolt, the head' 40 for which is adapted to operate in a similar shaped annular slot 41 formed in the stationary disk 13', While the Vshank of this ybolt is provided With Ea nut 42 which when tightened holds the disk 18 fixed with relation to thev stationary disk. In connec` inspection of Figure 2, that this chart 43 contains indicia indicating the number of times plus a decimal fraction of a turn which must be given to the handle ll in order to cut a predetermined number of teeth or grooves in the work, the chart being used in connection with the index finger in the usual manner.

In practice, the invention is used as follows: l

It is of course understood that the turning of the shaft l() operates the wor; support (not shown) in the ordinary well known manner, and is providedfwith a worm gear (not shown) for this purpose. This structure and operation is well known in the art, and accomplished in practically the same manner as illustrated in Patent No. 1,295,- 363.

kNowif it is desired to cut three teeth in aparticular gear, reference is made to the chart shown in Figure 2, to determine how many times it is necessary to turn the handle 11 for properly spacing the teeth on the gear. It will be noted that the handle l1 must be turned thirteen times plus of a turn after each tooth is cut. Assuming that the handle ll is in neutral position as shovvnfin Figure l, Yit is only necessary to j loosen the nut 33, to release the index finger 28 for movement. Then by turning the micrometer sleeve 2e, the index finger 28 is moved to a position upon the disk 18 equivalent to of a turn. The nut 33 is then Atightened to hold vthe index finger in this position, while the nut 1G is loosened to release the handle 11 from the disk 13.

The handleis then turned to rotate the shaft a distance vequal to .33333 of a revolution, the stop 35 carried by the handle being` brought into engagement with the index finger 28. The tooth is now cut in the gear, and after this has been accomplished the nut 42 is loosened to allow the disk 18 to be rotated until the stop 21 is brought against the stop pin 35 on the handle. NoiY tighten the nut 42, and the index head is again set to space for the next tooth. The hand-le l1 is now'turned thirteen times in order to rotate the shaft lO, which as above stated is geared to the work support to gradually turn the latter a distance equal to the desired distance between the teeth on the gear. It is necessary to lift the stop rod 35 over the stop 2i and the index finger 28 during each revolution of the handle 1l, but after the rod 35 is lifted over the stop 2l on the thirteenth turn ofthe handle 1l it is let down or lowered against the disk 18, and the handle further turned until it isbrought into engagement with the index finger 28. The nut 16 isfthen tightened to hold the handle fixed in this given position while the next tooth on the gear is being cut` and when this has been accomplished, the operation is repeated to provide the necessary space between the tooth just cut and the next tooth to be cut. The index chart is read the same as a micrometer, and if it is desired to turn the work support any decimal fraction of a turn, it is only necessary to set the stop 21 and index finger 28 accordingly, and turn the handle ,that particular distance. Every whole number on the chart is indicative of one complete turn of the handle 11. The micrometer index is capable of dividing any circle into any number of equal parts from one to one thousand.

vWhile is it believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described, and that such changes may be resorted toL when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

l. In an indexing head of the character described, thecombination with a rotatable shaft and a handle therefor, of a stationary disk, means for holding said handle fixed with relation to said disk, a graduated disk mounted for rotation, cooperating means carried by the handle and movable disk for limiting the rotation of the latter, anV index finger movable with relation to the graduated disk, means including a micrometer sleeve for adjusting the index linger, and means for holding the index linger and graduated disk fixed relatively for simul-l taneous adjustment.

2. In an indexing head of the character described, the combination with a rotatable shaft and a handle therefor, of a stationary disk, means for holding said handle fixed with relation to the disk, a spring pressed rod projecting from the handle, a graduated disk mounted for rotation, a stop carried by the graduated `disk and adapted to engage said rod to limit the rotation of said disk, an index finger movable across the graduated disk, means including a micrometer sleeve for adjusting said finger, means for holding said finger fixed with relation to the movable disk for subsequent adjustment therewith as a unit, and said finger being disposed in the path of said spring pressed rod and constituting a stop there- V3. In an indexing head of the character described, the combination with a rotatable shaft and a handle therefor, of a stationary disk, means for holding said handle fixed with relation to said disk, a spring pressed rod projecting from one side of the handle, a graduated disk mounted for rotation and including a hub, a gear carried by said hub, a stop carried by said disk and adapted to engage said rod t0 limit the rotation of said disk, an index linger movable across said graduated disk, a plate supporting said finger and mounted on said shaft, a Worm gear journalled on said plate and meshing With the gear of said disk, a microineter sleeve for turning the Worm gear, Whereb said index finger is adjusted across said disk, means for holding said index nger fixed with relation to the disk for adjustment therewith as a unit, and said index 10 finger constituting a stop for said handle and adapted to be engaged by the rod carried thereby.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ROYDEN K. MCDOUGAL. 

